Retainer for fountain-pens and pencils.



L. D. VAN VALKENBURG. RETAINER FOR FOUNTAIN PBNS AND PENGILS. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 18, 1913.

1,095,685. Patented May 5, 1914.

27y] 1&2 I 2 WITNESSES: [)VVENTOR.

I ATTORNEY.

LEVI D. VAN VALKENBURG, 0F HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS.

RETAINER FOR FOUNTAIN-PENS AND PENCILS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEVI D. VAN VALKEN- BURG, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Holyoke, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Retain ers for Fountain- Pens and Pencils, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to clips or retainers to be used on fountain pens and pencils for engagement with the edge portion of a vest or other pocket whereby the loss of a pen or pencil is prevented.

The invention especially pertains to a device of the general character mentioned which has a lever-like operating member by means of which, under the exertion of pressure, the bill or retaining part of the device is forced to its open or pocket disengaging position for facilitating the engagement of the retainer with the edge of the wall or leaf of the pocket and also its disengagement.

The object of the invention is to provide a retainer for fountain pens and pencils which is extremely cheap of manufacture, which may be made from a single blank of spring sheet metal under very few mechanical operations, which is durable and capable of being used for a long time without impairment, which is entirely eflicient and reliable in service, and which may be of si htly and attractive appearance.

The invention is described in conjunction.

with the accompanying drawings and is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view, enlarged, of the retainer as applied on the cap of a fountain'pen. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, the retainer being shown in its normal position. Fig. 3 is asectional view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the retainer as in its opened ordisengaged position. Fig. dis a cross sectional view still further enlarged, taken on line 44, Fig. 2. V

In the drawings, the device is represented as consisting of a spring blade A having at the rear end thereof a spring band B to constrictively encircle -a fountain pen or pencil and to serve as a clip for the holding of the device on the en or pencil.

The spring lade is provided at its forward end with a projection (I which extends transversely toward and is adapted for bearing g inst the side of the pen.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 18, 1913.

Patented May 5, 1914. Serial No. 742,757.

The blade A has a recess-forming incision extendlng from its intermediate portion well to the rearward whereby a lever-forming tongue 9 is produced, such tongue being bent to an outward and rearward inclination relatively to the plane of the blade; and it has its portion 2' which is within the recess is and adjoining the blade proper inwardly bent on a rounding curve to form a fulcrum bearing portion which has contact against the side of the pen or pencil.

Inasmuch as the lateral projection 01 outwardly offsets the extremity of the blade or bill of the retainer, and such blade lies in a plane slightly angular to the longitudinal line of the pen or pencil, the slight inward ofisetting of the portion of the blade indicated at z is advantageous inasmuehas a constant fulcrum bearing of the lever member against the side of the pen is assured. In action, when pressure is applied at the rear and outwardly extended extremity of the lever member g, the blade is caused to be swung to, the open position shown in Fig. 3,it being free and resilient from its forward extremity to its point of junction at a; with the encircling band or clip B.-

As apparent, from the inspection of the drawings, the device is susceptible of being manufactured from a stamping of spring sheet metal with great rapidity and cheapness and withthe requirement of but very few mechanical operations.

I claim:-

1. A device of the character described consisting of a spring blade having at the rear end thereof a spring band to constrictively encircle an instrument, provided at its forward end with a projection whichjextends transversely thereof, and having an incision extending from its intermediate portion rearwardly whereby a lever formin tongue is produced, said lever being bent to an outward and rearward inclination relatively to the blade, and said lever forming tongue at its portion which is within the incision and adj oining the blade proper hav ing a fulcrum adapted to bear against the side of the instrument.

2. A device of the character described consisting of a spring blade having at the rear end thereof a spring band to constrictively encircle an instrument, provided at its forward end with a projection which extends transversely thereof, and having a recessforming incision extending from its intermediate portion rearwardly whereby a lever forming tongue is produced, such tongue being bent to an outward and rearward in-- clination relatively to the blade, and having its portion which is Within the recess and adjoining the blade proper inwardly bent on a rounding curve to have a fulcrum bearing against the side of the instrument.

8. An article of manufacture consisting of a lever operated instrument retainer formed out or" one piece of material and consisting of an instrument gripping band and a depending tongue having a lever stamped out of the same and bent outwardly of the tongue, the lever having a curved fulcrum connecting the same to the tongue and adapted to bear against the side of the instrument through the slot formed by said lever and the free end of the lever projecting out- Wardly-and upwardly toward the band, said slot terminating above the forward end of the tongue.

Signed by me at Springfield, Mass, in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

LEVI D. VAN VALKENBURG. "Witnesses:

G. R. DRIscoLn, WM. S. Burrows. 

